Mariam Jime Adam came to Chad from Sudan with her eight children. “We were attacked in our home, my husband was killed and all our property was taken,” she says. “I managed to escape with my children.” UN: forced displacement reaches record levels Refugees and Migrants
The world has seen historically high levels of forced displacement this year and last, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said in its 2024 annual report, released Thursday.& nbsp;
The report notes that in May 2024, the number of internally displaced people rose to 120 million people. This figure has been growing for the 12th consecutive year. The reason is ongoing crises and new conflicts.
Main factors
The main reason for the sharp increase in numbers is the war in Sudan, which has forced 10.8 million people to flee their homes by the end of 2023.
In addition, last year, millions of people were internally displaced due to fighting in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Myanmar.
The UN Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) estimates that about 75 percent of the Gaza Strip’s population (about 1.7 million people) have been forced to flee their homes.
However, the record for The number of people displaced inside and outside the country is being held by Syria: 13.8 million people have been forcibly displaced within its borders and abroad.
“Behind these huge and growing numbers are countless human tragedies. This suffering must prompt urgent action by the international community to address the root causes of forced displacement,” said UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi.
An increase of 50 percent over five years
The UNHCR report notes that most people fleeing their homes due to conflict are displaced within their own countries. That number has grown to 68.3 million, up nearly 50 percent in five years, according to the agency.
In addition, the number of refugees and people in need of international protection has increased to 43.4 million. “It is high time for warring parties to respect the basic laws of war and international law,” Grandi said. “The fact is that without greater cooperation and concerted efforts to resolve conflicts, end human rights violations and tackle the climate crisis, the number of displaced people will continue to grow.”
Refugees returning home
More than five million internally displaced people and nearly a million refugees worldwide will have returned home in 2023, the report said. That same year, the number of displaced people increased by 154,300.
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees said millions of people returned home last year, calling the news a “glimmer of hope.” According to Volker Türk, solutions already exist – “we have seen countries like Kenya leading the way on refugee integration – but this requires real commitments from parties.”
He also added that “refugees and the communities that host them need solidarity and assistance. They can and do contribute to society when they are included in society.”
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